Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-06-10

flowers; the Hook and Ladder Company
Capt. Wehn, with their truck beautifully
decorated; carriage containing the VEN
cradle A. M. Simpson and other veteran
Odd Fellows; long line of the sons OF
| Confederate veterans, on horseback, and
| closing with a long line OF handsomely
| decorated trades wagons. The procession
moved at slow pace, the military carry
! ing their arms reversed. The artillery
; fired minute guns as the eortege proceed
| ed. The decoration of the graves was al
ready done at the cemetery before
] the procession moved, and when it reached
| the cemetery it simply passed reverent-
| ly around the soldiers section and re-
| turned to the town.
At the Opera House.
The arrangements at the Opera House
J to prevent tumultuous crowding worked
well, and the returning procession when
| it reached there was assigned to the seats
already marked out for the organizations.
| On the stage were some fifty prominent
gentlemen. The gallery was filed almost
exclusively by ladies. When Gen. Averill
; and Gov. Lee walked on the stage, they
were received with great applause. When
silence had prevailed President Pratt
announced the object of the gathering.
He said:
''To-day We have assembled to honor the
memories of our dead comrades, to lay
a Wreath upon the sodded mound which
+, covers their heroic clay, and Blue and
Gray unite in the tribute to that sublime
devotion which dared to die, and the
heroism and valor which is now Nations
I heritage.
II welcome you comrades and friends to
a victory of peace, in which one of the
bravest and triesGG Of those who fought for :
tR5- Union, in the noble nature which
speaks for itself, comes to you no longer
leading his fiery troops. but to add his
/ tribute to the brave men who died for
what they believed to be the right" T.
Rev. James Nelson, D. D., OF the Staun-
! ton Baptist church, then offered up most
eloquent and appropriate prayer.
GOV. LEES INTRODUCTION OF
GEN. AVERILL.
/ Gov. Lee came to the front amid ire
mendous cheering. He said that many
years ago New Y ork sent to West Point
cadet, and Virginia the year after sent
there another. When the New z ork cadet
graduated he was sent to Carlisle as
drill master, and when the Virginia cadet
graduated he was sent to the same place
On the same duty, and there the two
cadets renewed their friendship begun at
West Point. They were sent from
there to the frontier where they
served together and stood shoulder to
shoulder in support of the Star Spangled
Banner, (cheersl. But the clouds OF civil
war commenced to rise on the horizon of
the republic. These two young officers in
their different homes had been differently
taught. One was taught the power of the
Nation, while the other had learned that a
State could recall the power given the
Nation, if at any time it felt aggrieved.
There was no peaceful ground on which
to settle these two opinions which were
held by the two sections of the country
it was an ''irrepresslble conflict" One
officer rallied to the flag of the Union,
while the Virgnlan went home to obey
the demand OF his State. For four years
the war ragged. It so happened that both
these young men became general officers
and their commands met on different
fields. A part OF the record of the New
York officer was made in this Valley, and
l say it here as have said elsewhere that
he made war like a soldier He fought us
braVely and vigorously, but he showed
, that humanity towards the defenceless that
true soldier knows how to show, Zap
pause) He is to-day in Staunton
(applanse.) During the war | was here
on my way to try and catch him. He had
been making raid on Lynehburg and
was returning. and hoped to catch him
at CoVlngton, where-the longest pole
would have gotten the persimmons.
daughter But was recalled.a nd couldn't
make the trial. Twenty odd years ago
was trying to capture him and bring him
to Staunton, and 10! here he is in Staunton
to speak for himself. (applause) He
shows by his very presence here that the
war is indeed over. {applause.) The ques-
ton OF State and Nation has been settled
and hereafter our people are one people.
with Que country and one destiny, zap
plause)
1t is magnificent sight to see this DEM
onstration IN memory of those we loved
and lost. No brave man can or will with
hold his approval Of it. If the dead we
mourn had not been brave men what cred
it was it that the opposing army won its
victories? and took four long years to de-
feat those in front Of it. Among those
dead are Stonewall jackson, Tie qulet col,
lege professor, who became star in the
red armament of war, and the noble Jeb
Stuart, who, on being told in camp that
his child was sick, sent word back, Il must
leave my child in the hands of God; my
duty requires me here.
!, Your presence Ito Gen. Averill) here,
truly indicates that at last we see the
I sunrise of national feeling-a peace to be
disturbed by no cannon save those fired
IN memory of the brave men who fell in
both armies. Of the war we can say of
every man in it. that if he did his duty as
soldier, and like a soldier, we are
proud of him as an American and OF his
courage as an example OF American valor.
In conclusion Gov. Lee said he would
present to the audience the New York
cadet at West Point and the later distin-
guished soldier, Gen. W. W. Averill Of
New York. (Great applause
GEN. AvERILL's SPEECH.
After the loud cheering which greeted
| Can A uarill had silhsidad ho roid.